That carnage acted as a turning point in the country's turbulent history.

In December 2009, Camara was shot by an aide. He survived but was forced into exile as part of a tenuous peace deal.

General Sekouba Konate, Camara's deputy, appointed a civilian prime minister and established a civilian-led transitional governing council, paving the way for a new constitution and Sunday's elections.

Rabiatou Serah Diallo, a former union leader, called Sunday's election a "decisive moment".

"This is a new beginning," she said.

"What we do in the future is what's important. There's much to do, and it's not going to be easy."